Alarm-signal mechanism.



No. 890,349.- PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

E. E. FLORA & R. J. ZORGH. ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1907.

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PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. E. B. FLORA & R. J. ZORGE.

ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

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No. 890,349. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

E. FLORA & R. J. ZIORGE. ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.-

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 19, 1907.

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ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

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No. 890,349. 'PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. E. E. FLORA & R. J. ZORGE. ALARM SIGNAL MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1907 '7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

ELLSWORTH E. FLORA AND ROBERT J. ZOE-GE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO ZORGE SAFETY RAILWAY EQUIPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ALARM-SIGNAL MECHANISM.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELLSWORTI-I E. FLORA and ROBERT J. ZoRGE, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Alarm Signal Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to means for giving warning to an engineer, or motorman, approaching an open switch, or an open draw, with his train, or car; and the primary object of the inventionis to provide improved apparatus involving the use of a device which will be preparatorily set when the switch is thrown open and which will operate to detonate a torpedo, or explosive body, when a train passes over it approaching a switch.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon the apparatus described and generically claimed in our allowed application No. 330,411, filed October 11th, 1906.

' The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view of a portion of a railway track equipped with this improved alarm device; Fig. 2, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 2 of Figs. 1 and 4, and showing details of torpedoplacing mechanism of improved construction; Fig. 3, a sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a plan sectional view taken as indicated at line 4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2, with the lid of the casing shown in said figure removed; Fig. 6, a diagrammatic view illustrating the circuits of an electric motor, a magnet controlling an ejector arm, a magnet controlling the motor circuit, and a shunt circuit for the motor employed for reducing the operative current supplied to the motor an instant before the motor is brought to a stop; Fig. 7, a broken bottom view of the rotary disk or torpedo carrier employed; Fig. 8, an enlarged broken sectional view of the torpedo carrier and one of the reciprocable torpedo holders or slides employed, the section being taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 5; Fig. 9, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 2, and illustrating details of the ejector arm and its rock shaft; Fig. 1.0, a section taken as indicated at line 10 of Fig. 4, and showing details of a connection between the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1907.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Serial No. 379,791.

actuating arm of said rock shaft and a gear of the gear train actuated by the electric motor, said connection comprising telescoping members and an electro-magnet which serves, when energized, to couple the telescoping members together, so that they will move as a unit in the operation of retracting a torpedo holder orslide; Fig. 11, a broken section taken as indicated at line 11 of Fig. 2, and showing a detail of the connection between one of the telescoping members mentioned above and the armature of the corresponding electromagnet; and Fig. 1.2, a view taken as indicated at line 12 of Fig. 6, and showing a detail of the automatically-controlled switch of the motor circuit. It may be preliminarily stated that in the diagram illustrated in Fig. 1, the'rotary torpedo carrier is represented as controlled by an electric circuit which is controlled by a branch circuit connected with the switchpoint of the railway track, and is further controlled by two electric circuits connected with two insulated sections oi the railway track. The torpedo-placing device is arranged to operate to place a torpedo beneath a train approaching the switch-point in the event that the branch circuit is interrupted at the switch-point, and the torpedo-placing device will not operate to place a torpedo beneath a train passing in the opposite direction, that is, away from the switch-point, unless the electric circuit connected with the intermediate insulated track section, shown in Fig. 1, is broken. In the operation of placin a torpedo upon the track, when the contro lling circuit of the torpedo-placing mechanism is broken, as happens when a train approaches the open switch, the mechanism operates to thrust one of the radiallymovable torpedo holders outwardly and thereby locate a torpedo above the adjacent track rail, and when the controlling circuit is restored, the mechanism operates to withdraw the projected torpedo holder. In the event that the torpedo is exploded before the withdrawal of the torpedo holder, the holder makes a complete inward movement and thereupon the mechanism operates to revolve the torpedo carrier one step to bring a fresh torpedo into alinement with the opening in the casing. In the event the torpedo is not discharged before withdrawal, the torpedo holder makes an incomplete inward movement and the clutch device which controls the rotary movement of the torpedo carrier is not operated to cause the torpedo carrier to rotate. The ejector arm is normally actuated by a weight when the controlling circuit is broken and the ejectorholding magnet is denergized, and at the instant the circuit of said magnet is broken the circuit of the internal magnet which controls the motor circuit is broken, permitting the switch of the motor circuit to be actuated under the force of the weight with which it is equipped, thereby establishing the motor circuit, and the motor thereupon operates to cause the ejector-controlling magnet to follow its armature so as to be in readiness to retract said armature when the controlling circuit is reestablished.

In the preferred construction, A represents a railway track electrically divided into sections A A A the section A having connected therewith a side track A and a switch-point A operated by any convenient means (not shown) B, torpedo placing mechanism controlled by a circuit B having a branch B adapted to be broken when the switch-point A is open to admit a train to the side-track, and having a branch B controlled by circuits connected with the track; B an electric circuit connected with the track section A? and controlling the branch B of the circuit B B an electric circuit connected with the track section A and serving, in connection with the circuit B, to control the branch B of the circuit B and C a visual signal, which, in connection with the alarm or detonating signal B is controlled by the circuit B. It may be stated here that the circuit B" has in it a magnet whose armature controls a circuit breaker with which the circuit B is equipped, and the circuit B has in it a magnet which has two armatures, one of which serves as a lock for said first-named armature and the other of which serves as a lock for its companion armature. Also, the circuit B is provided at different points with batteries or generators, one of which is adapted to be short-circuited by a train, thereby partially denergizing the magnet in the circuit and permitting that armature of said magnet which is most easily released to fall back into position to lock the armature of the magnet in the circuit B while it is itself sustained by its companion locking-armature. The visual signal is controlled from the circuit B through the medium of a relay, and the torpedo placing device is controlled through the medium of the visual signal and an additional relay.

The device B comprises a casing having a lower portion 1) of substantially rectangular form and adapted to fit between ties I), and having an upper portion 6 of circular form equipped with flanges 1) adapted to be supported on the ties; a swinging casing-top 6 adapted to be thrown back to permit access to the interior of the casing a pivoted disk or plate If within the upper portion of the casing and between which and the casing top is a carrier chamber 6 a rotary carrier 5 equipped centrally with a stud b journaled in'a bearing 1), with which the disk 5 is provided centrally; radially slidable torpedocarrying members 1) connected with the carrier 6 suitably spaced frame plates t (Figs. 3 and 4), connected by bolts 1) with flanges b with which the under surface of the disk 5 is equipped, said plates 6 depending into the lower portion 1) of the casing and serving to support the gear train and other movable parts of the mechanism, a slide-ac tuating rock-arm, I) having its lower end journaled on a rock-shaft 6 (Figs. 2 and 9) and actuated through the medium of a bi furcated member If rigidly connected with the shaft b; an actuating arm 6 for the rock shaft 6 connected by a magnetequipped telescopic connecting member I) with a wrist-pin b on a segmental gear I); a shaft 5 on which the segmental gear 12 is secured, said shaft being actuated by a gear I) meshing with a gear I) secured on a shaft 1), which is equipped with a worm wheel b an electric motor 6 having a shaft equipped with a worm I), which actuates the worm wheel If; a shaft 1) equipped with a gear 6 actuated by the segmental gear b a bevel gear, 6 on the shaft b and meshing with a bevel gear I) loosely ournaled on a vertical shaft b and equipped with a clutch member 6 a com anion clutch member I) splined on the shat I); a bell-crank clutchshifting lever 6 supported on a pivot 5 carried by a bracket dependingfrom the plate 6"; an actuating rod [1 connected with said bell-crank lever and movable in a guide 6 a crank b secured on the upper end of the shaft 1) and serving to actuate the rotary torpedo carrier; a weight b rigidly connected with the rock-shaft b and tending to rotate said shaft in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 a circuit-controlling disk I) fixed on the shaft 1) and controlling the circuit of the electric motor 6 a switch or circuit-controlling member I) co-acting with the circuit-controlling disk I)? and serving also as the armature of an electro-magnet b and an electro-magnet Z2 fixedly connected with one of the telescoping members of the connectingrod Z2 and serving to hold said telescoping members in the collapsed condition shown in Fig. 2 while the circuit of said magnet is maintained.

The casing b may be of any suitable form, but it is preferably of the form illustrated. It is e uipped above one of the flanges b with pivot ugs b for attachment of the cover 6 and is equipped above the other one of the flanges b with securing-lugs b, whereat the free or swinging edge of the cover may be secured as by means of the member 1) shown in Fig. 3. The inner casingplate If is equipped with pivot lugs I) supported on a pivot 5 as shown in Fig. 2, said pivot being suitably supported by the casing.

The free edge of the plate 6 rests upon a support 19 as shown in Fig. 2. The mechanism is carried by the plate b and the plates 1) depending therefrom, so that when the plate 6 is swung upon its pivot, as may be accomplished by a handle I), the mechanism will be swung out of the casing and subject to inspection. This may be accomplished by first removing the rotary carrier N. The inner casing-plate b is equipped centrally on its upper surface with a ring-shaped flange b as shown in Fig. 2, and the said flange is provided on the side towards the opening I) with a slot 1) which registers with a radial slot with which the plate 6 is provided, and in which the upper portion of the slideactuating arm I) works. The rotary carrier b may be of any suitable construction. As shown, it comprises a disk equip )ed with projecting arms b, and it has-radia recesses or guides b on its upper surface which receive the slidable torpedo holders 1). The bottoms of the recesses or guides b are provided with radial slots 6 As shown in Fig. 7 the under side of the carrier is equipped with radial flanges I) joined at their inner ends by curved portions I), thus affording cam-surfaces adapted to be engaged by the crank 6 on the shaft 1), for the purpose of actuating the carrier. Each radially-movable slide b comprises a shank equipped at its inner end with a depending lug b 'adapted to be engaged by the bifurcated head of the rock-arm I). Said lugs I) work normally within the ring 6 during the rotation of the carrier. The outer end of each torpedo holder is equipped with lateral lugs 12 which normally rest upon the flanges b flanking the recesses b of the torpedo carrier, and when the torpedo holder is thrust outwardly, said lugs, riding off the ends of the flanges 1), permit the outer end of the torpedo holder to drop slightly, so that the lugs I) are in position to engage the outer ends of the flanges I) and prevent completion of the inward movement of retraction of the torpedo holder in the event that the torpedo is not exploded or used. This expedient serves to prevent rotation of the torpedo carrier in a manner to be explained presently. The torpedo holders are equipped at their outer ends with torpedoes b and. the shanks of the torpedoes are weakened adj acent to the torpedoes by perforations b so that the shank will be readily broken when the explosion occurs. The shanks are of cast metal to enable this to be effectively accomplished.

As has been indicated, the slide-actuating arm I) is actuated by the member If", which is rigidly mounted upon the rock-shaft b,

the slide actuating arm being loosely mounted upon said shaft to permit a certain amount of idle movement of the member 5 before the arm o is actuated. The member I) is provided at its upper end with two laterally-projecting lugs or stops b, 1), (Figs. 2 and 9) adapted to engage the arm I). A spring 6 tends to hold the arm b in engagement with the stop I). In the normal position, before reciprocation of a toredo holder has occurred, the upper end of the arm b bears against the inner end of the slot 1).

. As shown in the right hand portion of Fig. 2, however, the torpedo holder has been actuated and then incompletely retracted, the lugs I) having engaged the outer ends of the flanges I), thus arresting the retraction of the torpedo holder. In returning to the normal position shown in Fig. 2, the wrist-pin I) on the mutilated gear I) rocked the member I) farther to the left than it is represented in 2, and then returned it to the position which it occupies in Fig. 2, the spring I) yielding to permit this movement while the rock arm I) remained stationary. The slide-actuating rock-arm 1) comprises as shown in Fig. 9, two telescoping sections, one of which is pivotally connected with the rock shaft Z2 and the other of which is pivotally connected with a slide I) supported on the horizontally-disposed guide rod 5 The slide 1)" is equipped with an arm I) which serves to actuate the rod 12 and thereby throw the clutch member I) into engagement with clutch member I) when the rock arm I) returns to the extreme inner end of its traverse. Thus, rotation of the carrier 1) is provided for only when the slide-actuating arm b returns to the extreme inner end of its traverse.

. As has been indicated, the connecting means between the arm I) which actuates the shaft 1) and the wrist-pin I) with which the mutilated gear b is equipped, comprises telescoping sections. Thus, as shown in 10 there is a sleeve 1) pivotally connected with the arm I) and a rod 1) telescopicallyreceived by said sleeve and connected with a member 12 which is journaled on the wristpin b. The member I) carries the electro magnet 6 The sleeve b is equipped with a rigidly-connected collar b, which carries, as shown in Fig. 11, a lug b which is joined by a bolt I) to the armature b of the magnet b Confined between the lug I)" and the armature I) is a spring I). This connection is designed to permit the armature to adjust itself properly to its poles under all conditions. A positive locking device be tween the telescoping sections of the connecting rod 1) is provided so that it will not be necessary to depend wholly upon the pull of the magnet for retracting the torpedo holder in the event the torpedo holder should become frozen to the track. This device comprises a pawl mounted upon the sleeve 5 and adapted to engage the shoulder [2 with which the rod 6 is provided. A pin or cam 1) (Figs. 4 and 10), carried by one of the frame plates 1) is so located as to engage the pawl 6 and effect a release at the moment the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the lower section of the telescopic connecting rod b will be free and ready to permit actuation of the slide-actuating arm I) under the force of the weight I) when the magnet 6 is denergized.

The mutilated gear 6 is provided on one side with a stud b adapted to engage the arms 6 of a triangular member I) carried by the gear Z2 thereby aiding in setting the gear 71 in motion. The mutilated gear I) is equipped at 5 with a sufficient number of teeth to cause a one-third revolution of the gear I). The gear I) is normally locked against rotation by a pawl 5 which is supported on a pivot b and equipped with a weight b The pawl 6 has a locking shoulder b adapted to engage any one of three lateral studs I) with which the gear I) is equipped. Said awl I2 is further provided as shown in Fig. 2 with a cam arm 6 adapted to be engaged by a lateral stud 6* upon the further side of the mutilated gear if", as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the locking pawl will be preparatorily disengaged from the gear I) an instant before the stud b engages one of the arms I).

As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit B is equipped with an electro-magnet 1 and a battery 2. The magnet 1 has an armature 3 controlling the circuit 4 of an electro magnet 5, the circuit 4 being provided with a battery 6. The magnet 5 serves normally to hold elevated a visual signal, or semaphore, 7 and thus maintain in a normally closed condition an electric circuit 8 having therein a battery 9 and an electro-magnet 10. The magnet 10 has an armature 11 controlling a circuit 12 provided with a battery 13. The circuit 12 is connected with terminals 33 and 34 of the torpedo-placing mechanism, and, as will be presently described, said circuit serves to energize the magnet 12 and the magnet I) of the torpedo-placing mechanism. The shank of the visual signal 7 forms a part of the circuit 8 and normally makes contact with the contact-point 14 in the circuit.

Both track-rails of the electrically-insulated track section A are connected with a track-battery 15 and the track-rails form a part of the electric circuit B. Said electric circuit is equipped with a magnet 16 provided with an armature 17, on which is mounted a yielding circuit-changer or circuit-breaker 18. The armature 17 is equipped .near its extremity with a laterally projecting stud 19 and a spring 20 of adjustable tension tends to draw the armature away from its magnet and against a stop 21. The track section A is equipped with a track-battery 22 connected with both track rails, and the track-rails form a part of the electric circuit B The electric circuit B is further provided with a battery 23 and an electromagnet 24. The magnet 24 is provided with an armature 25, which serves as a locking member for the armature 17 when the battery 22 is short-circuited and a stop 26 is provided, which limits the outward movement of the armature 25 in case the circuit B is broken. The magnet 24 is further provided with an armature 27 of bell-crank shape, which is supported on a pivot 28 and equipped at its angle with a hook 29 adapted to engage the stud 30 on the armature 25. The armature 27 is limited in its drop by a stud 31, in the event of the breaking of the circuit B A spring 32 of adjustable tension is connected with the armature 25 and in the event of the weakening of the current passing throu h the magnet 24, as by short-circuiting of the battery 22, the armature will be drawn slightly away from the magnet until the stud 30 engages the hook 29, in which condition the upper end of the armature 25 will rest beneath the stud 19 and lock the armature 17, thus preventing breaking of the circuit B if the battery 15 is short-circuited at the same time that the battery 22 is short circuited.

Current is supplied to the motor 6 from a generator 35 having a circuit 36 connected with terminals 37 and 38 connected with the casing 12 of the mechanism B. As shown in Fig. 6 the terminals 33 and 34 are also 0011- nected with the casing b and the said terminals are joined by conductors 33 and 34 to terminals 33 and 34 which are connected with the horizontally-disposed swinging plate b Likewise the terminals 37 and 38 are connected by conductors 37 a and 38 with terminals 37 and 38 carried by the plate 6 This expedient is adopted to permit the mechanism to be swung out of the casing b as above described. From the terminals 33 and 34 a branch circuit 39 extends to the magnet 6 and a branch circuit 40 extends to the magnet b. From the terminals 37 and 38* a circuit 41 extends to the electric motor I) and includes the circuitcontrolling disk I) and the oscillating switch I), which is controlled by the magnet 1). Connected with the brushes 42 of the motor I) is a shunt circuit 43 having therein a resistance coil 44. The circuit 43 is equipped with yielding contact members 45, 46, one of which has a cam portion 47 adapted to be engaged by cams or studs 48, 49, of-insulating material, carried by the gear wheel I). The function of the shunt circuit 43 is to shortcircuit the current passing to the motor an instant before it is desired that-the motor shall stop, so that the speed of the motor will be decreased and the motor will be readily stopped when the contact member Z) engages an insulated portion of the disk I). The relation of the disk I) and the switch I) is shown in Fig. 12. In the illustration given the disk is compound, or comprises two companion disks 50, 51, the former of which is equipped with a block of insulation 52 and the latter of which is equipped with a block of insulation 53. The disks are clamped between a collar 54 and nuts 55 with which the shaft b is equipped. The angular relation of the insulation blocks, 52, 53 may be changed, therefore, at will. The member I) is supported on a pivot 56 and equipped with a weight 56. The upper end of the member I) is bifurcated and carries two brushes 57 and 58. The magnet b normally maintains the brush 58 in contact with the disk and resting against the insulation 58. When the magnet b is deenergized the weight 56 tilts the number I) and throws the brush 57 into contact with the metallic portion of the disk, thereby closing the motor circuit.

From the foregoing detailed description, the operation of the apparatus will be readily understood. If the switch-point A be open, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the branch circuit B being thereby broken, a train entering tne section A in the direction indicated by the arrow will denergize the magnet 16 and permit the armature 17'to be dropped, thereby breaking the circuit B deenergizing the magnet 1, permitting the visual signal 7 to drop, breaking the circuit 8, deenergizing the magnet 10 and breaking the circuit 12. When the circuit 12 is broken, the magnet l) is denergized, permitting the weight b to actuate the ejector arm I) and project a torpedo to a position above the rail. At the same time, the magnet b is denergized, permitting the weight 56 to shift the switch or contact member 1) thereby establishing the motor circuit, whereupon the motor operates to turn the wheel I) and cause the magnet 12 to follow its armature, the circuitcontrolling disk I) being operated at the same time to bring the insulation block 52 beneath the brush 57. An instant before this happens, the shunt circuit 43 of the motor is closedby the cam 49 carried by the gear wheel I)". When the insulation 52 passes beneath the brush .57, therefore, the motor stops at once. This occurs after the mutilated gear 6 has made onethird of a revolution and the magnet I) has been brought again into engagement with its armature. At the same time the pawl 5 engages the shoulder b with which the upper telescoping member of the rod I) is provided,

thereby positively locking the telescoping members of the rod I) together. It should be observed that in the event the weight b should, for any reason, be insufficient to wholly project the torpedo, the movement of the magnet Z1 under the action of the mutilated gear 5 insures a completion of the movement of projection of the torpedo when the magnet b, in its downward stroke, strikes against thearmature b.

Upon a reestablishment of the circuit B, as will occur when the switch'A is shifted and the branch circuit B is established, the circuits 4, 8 and 12 will be reestablished and the magnets b and b reenergized. Thereupon, the member I) will be shifted to reestablish the motor circuit and the motor will begin to operate a second time and will continue to operate until the insulation 53 passes beneath the brush 58, the cam 48 of the gear wheel 5 operating, in the mean time, .to again close the shunt circuit 34 and divert a portion of the current from the motor. It is to be observed, also, that the shunt circuit, since it is closed at the instant when the motor begins operation, acts to prevent a violent starting of the motor.

In the event that the torpedo is not eX- ploded before the motor is set in operation to retract the torpedo holder, the shoulder b at the extremity of the torpedo holder will engage the outer end of the torpedo holder guide so that the torpedo holder will stop in the position shown in the right hand portion of Fig. 2, the, rock-shaft I) being permitted, by the spring I), to make an idle movement while the gear I) is completing its revolution. In the event that the torpedo is exploded before the torpedo holder is retracted,

the outer end of the torpedo holder is destroyed and the ejector arm I) will be permitted to complete its inward movement, in which case the arm I) of the" slide b will strike the rod 6 and throw the clutch member 5 into engagement with the clutch member b, whereupon the crank 5 will operate to turn the torpedo carrier one step to bring a fresh torpedo into alinement with the opening b. It should be here observed that the bell-crank lever If is equipped with a weight 59 (Figs. 2 and 4), which tends normally to hold the clutch member I) in the position shown in Fig. 2. As has been stated, the stud b engages the locking pawl b an instant before the mutilated gear 1) reaches the position shown in Fig. 2 and disengages the locking pawl so that the weight b will be free to actuate the ejector the instant the circuit of the magnet 5 is broken.

In the event that a train passes over the track in a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, it is desirable that the torpedo-placing mechanism shall not be operated. Assuming a portion of the train to be in the section A the bat-- teries 22 and 15 will be short-circuited. The armature 25 will, therefore, move to a position to engage the stud 19 of the armature by Letters 17, the armature 25 being held in this position by the armature 27. Notwithstanding, therefore, the denergization of the magnet 16, the branch circuit B will not be broken. Should the circuit B be broken, however, the armature 27 would drop, thereby permitting the armature 25 to fall back against its stop 26 and allow the armature 17 to drop, there by causing a torpedo to be placed upon the track' An alarm, under such conditions, would serve to indicate a breakage of the circuit B and the necessity for repairing the same.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that many or all of the features of the invention herein shown may be usefully employed in connection with block-signals, railwaycrossings, at switches to prevent fouling with main line, at curves, tunnels, water-tanks and in fact wherever it is desirable to protect a section of a railway track.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no undue limitation is to be understood therefrom.

What I regard as new and desire to secure Patent is 1. The combination with a track, of torpedo-placing mechanism comprising a carrier, torpedo holders mounted thereon, and means for projecting the torpedo holders, comprising a magnet-held ejector, and means for actuating the magnet to bring it again into engagement with its armature after the ejector has begun its movement of ejection.

'2. In means of the character described, the combination of a rotary carrier, a series of slides mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a slide-actuating member, a magnet controlling the slide-actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members and said magnet, an electric motor, and electro -magnetic controlling means for said motor.

3. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, a series of torpedo holders mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder actuating member, an electric motor geared to said members, and elec tro magnetic controlling means for said motor.

4. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members, an electric motor serving to actuate said gear train, electro-magnetic controlling means for said motor, a clutch controlling the carrier-actuating member, and automatic actuating means for said clutch.

5 In means of the character described, the combination of a rotary carrier, aseries of torpedo slides mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a slide-actuating member,

means for preventing complete inward movement of a slide after projection thereof in the event of non-explosion of the torpedo, a clutch controlling the carrier-actuating member, clutch operating means controlled by the ejected slide, and means for operating the carrier-actuating member through the medium of said clutch when the clutch is thrown to the operative position.

6. The combination with a railway track, of torpedo-placing mechanism comprising a rotary carrier, radially movable torpedo slides mounted thereon, mechanism for imparting a step-by-step movement to said carrier and for actuating said slides as they arrive in turn at a given point, and means for suspending the rotation of the carrier in the event of non-explosion of the projected torpedo.

7. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuat= ing member, a holder-actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members, and connecting means between the gear train and the holder-actuating member, comprising an electro-magnet and its armature, the electro-magnet being connected with either the gear train or the holder-actuating member and its armatuge being connected with the other one of said means, for the purpose set forth.

8. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder-actuatingmember, a gear train serving to actuate said members, and connecting means between the gear train and the holder-actuating member, comprising an electro-magnet and its armature, the electro-magnet being connected with either the gear train or the hol(;leractuating member and its armature being connected with the other one of said means, and means for positively connecting the magnet and its armature together, for the purpose set forth.

9. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder-actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members, a connecting rod joining the gear train to the holder-actuating member and comprising telescoping sections, a magnet connected with one of said telescoping sections and an armature connected with the other of said telescoping sections, and means for controlling the circuit of said magnet.

10. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder-actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members, a connecting rod oining the gear train to the holdenactuating member and comprising telescoping sections, a magnet connected with one of said telescopingsections and an armature connected with the other of said telescoping sections, means for controlling the circuit of said magnet, and means fer locking said telescoping sections together.

11. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder-actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members, a connecting rod joining the gear train to the holder-actuating member and comprising telescoping sections, a magnet connected .with one of said telescoping sections and an armature connected with the other of said telescoping sections, a locking pawl serving to lock said telescoping sections together, and means for automatically disengaging the pawl from its locking position when the parts return to the normal position of rest.

12. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, a carrier-actuating member, torpedo holders movably mounted on said carrier, a holder-actuating member, a gear train serving to actuate said members, connecting means between the gear train and the holder-actuating member including an electro-magnet and its armature, an electric motor serving to actuate said gear train and having a circuit equipped with a controlling wheel actuated by said gear train and equipped also with a switch, an electromagnet controlling said switch, and an electric circuit controlling said ele'ctro-magnets.

13. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrieractuating member, a holder-actuating member, an electric motor serving to actuate said mem bers, means for automatically starting and stopping the motor, and means for automatically diminishing the supply of current to the motor preparatory to the stopping of the motor.

14. In means of the character described, the combination of a casing, a pivotallysup ported plate within said casing, a frame depending from said plate, a rotary carrier surmounting said plate, a movable casing-top above said carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted upon said carrier, and actuating means for the carrier and torpedo holders mounted on said frame and adapted to swing out of the casing when said plate is swung upon its pivot, for the purpose set forth.

15. In means of the character described, the combination of a rotary carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrieractuating member, a holder-actuating member, a clutch controlling the operation of the carrier-actuating member, a gear through i the medium of which the carrier-actuating member is actuated, locking means for said gear, a gear through the medium of which the holder-actuating member is actuated, means for actuating said last-named gear, and means for releasing the locking means of said first-named. gear and actuating said first-named gear for the purpose set forth.

16. The combination with a railway track, of torpedo-placing mechanism comprising a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier actuating member, a holder-actuating member, and means controlling the movement of said carrier and dependent for its action upon complete retraction of the projected holder, whereby movement is imparted to the carrier onlyin the event of the explosion of the projected torpedo.

17. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a rock-shaft, means tending normally to turn said rockshaft, an ejector arm having lost-motion connection with said rock-shaft, and an electromagnet normally restraining said rock-shaft from moving, for the purpose set forth.

18. In means of the character described, the combination 'of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a rock-shaft, a telescopic ejectonactuating arm having lostmotion connection with said rock-shaft, a guide with which the upper end of the ejector arm is connected, and means tending to turn said rock-shaft.

19. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, an ejector member, a rock-shaft having lost-motion connection with said ejector member and equipped with means tending to turn the rock-shaft and project a torpedo holder, means at the outer ends of the torpedo holders serving to prevent complete retraction of the torpedo holders in the event of non-explosion of the torpedoes, means normally restraining said rock-shaft from turning, a clutch through the medium of which said carrier is actuated, and clutch-actuating means dependent for its action upon the complete retraction of the projected torpedo holder.

20. In means of the character described, the combination of a casing, a pivotally-supported plate therein, a surmounting carrier, 4

a plurality of torpedo holders movably mounted therein, a holder-actuating member, a carrier-actuating member, and actuating means for said members supported from said plate and including an electric motor having a circuit with terminals applied to a stationary part of the casing, whereby the plate may be swung upon its pivot to raise the mechanism from the casing, for the pur pose set forth.

21. In means of the character described, the combination of a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder-actuating member, a roclcshaft equipped With a Weight arm and having lost-motion connection with said holder-actuating member, gear mechanism, a magnet and its armature connected with said gear mechanism and With said rockshaft, and circuit-controlling means for the circuit of said magnet.

22. The combination with a railway track electrically divided into sections and equipped with a track switch, and an electric circuit I having a branch controlled according to the position of the track-switch, and having a I branch controlled according to the position of the insulatedtrack sections, and torpedoplacing mechanism comprising a carrier, torpedo holders movably mounted thereon, a carrier-actuating member, a holder-actu ating member, a gear train, and an electric motor having a circuit controlled by said firstnamed circuit, for the purpose set forth.

ELLSlNORT-H E. FLORA. ROBERT J. ZORGE. In presence 0f- A. U. THORIEN, R. A. SoHAEFER. 

